Power Control for PXI Express Controller

ABSTRACT

A PXI Express controller may be configured to support at least three different conditions under which the controller may be turned on. If a chassis (e.g. a PXI Express chassis) interfacing with the controller has a power button, the first condition (which may be considered normal operation) may be met when the power button is being pressed at a time auxiliary power is present. When the chassis does not have a power button, the second condition may be met when the power is switched on at a time auxiliary power is present, and the third condition may be met when the power is switched on at a time auxiliary power is not present. A state-machine comprised in the PXI Express controller may be configured to interface with a chipset equally comprised in the PXI Express controller, to perform the control functions required to provide the support for the three different conditions.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/561,109 titled “PXI Express Controller Power Control StateMachine” filed Nov. 17, 2006, whose inventors are Keith D. Peterson andJeffrey L. Kennedy, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to measurement and data acquisitionsystems and, more particularly, to PXI Express controller design.

2. Description of the Related Art

In meeting the demand for increased functionality coupled with reducedcost/time-to-market in instrumentation design, most instrumentationsystems have begun to leverage existing, off-the-shelf technologies. ThePCI Express eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI Express)—introduced in2005 by National Instruments—is one of several electronicinstrumentation platforms in current use, and represents a modularinstrumentation platform that leverages existing technology to deliverhigh performance and low cost modular instrumentation. PXI Express isideally suited for building electronic test-equipment and/or automationsystems, and is based on industry-standard computer buses complementedwith extra features to facilitate electronic test. PXI Express affordsgreat flexibility in building test equipment and/or automation systemsto exact requirements, often fitted with custom software for managingthe entire system.

PXI Express was conceived for measurement and automation applicationsthat typically require high-performance and a rugged industrialform-factor. PXI Express also allows for module selection from a largenumber of vendors, with the modules easy integrating into a single PXIExpress system. A typical 3U PXI Express module measures approximately4×6 inches in size, and a typical 8-slot PXI Express rack is about thesize of a small toaster oven. Overall, PXI Express uses PC-basedtechnology as part of an industry standard governed by the PXI SystemsAlliance (PXISA), ensuring standards compliance and systeminteroperability. PXI Express modules are available for a wide varietyof test, measurement, and automation applications, from switchingmodules to high performance microwave vector signal generation andanalysis instruments.

PXI Express modules are typically designed to implement specificfunctions, such as analog signal capture, RF signal analysis, and/orwaveform generation. PXI Express modules that provide instrumentfunctions usually plug into a PXI Express chassis that may include itsown controller running an industry standard Operating System (e.g.Windows XP, Windows 2000, and/or Linux), or a PCI Express-to-PXI Expressbridge that provides a high-speed link to a desktop PC controller.Similarly, multiple PXI Express racks may be linked together with PCIExpress bridge cards to build very large systems such as multiple sourcemicrowave signal generator test stands for complex ATE applications.

Many of the PXI Express Controllers offered by National Instruments (NI)are typically turned on and off by the use of a chassis power button onthe front of a PXI Express chassis. The chassis power button isgenerally an input signal from a mechanical momentary switch indicatingthat an operator of a PXI Express chassis wants to change the systemon/off state. To change the system on/off state, the chassis powerbutton will assert a signal to the controller indicating that it wantsto change state. The circuitry that detects this signal is typicallypowered from the chassis auxiliary power. Auxiliary power refers topower that is always provided by the chassis as long as the chassis isplugged into an AC outlet. The controller will in turn use the on/offstate to control the chassis on/off state. To change the chassis on/offstate, a signal may be asserted indicating to the chassis that the mainpower supply needs to be turned on or off. The main power supply canprovide the power necessary to turn on the controller.

In certain cases, however, some chassis may not be configured with achassis power button. Chassis that do not implement a chassis powerbutton would need to be provided with some alternate means to turn thechassis on. This may typically be accomplished through a mechanicalpower switch, which would be used to turn on/off the main power suppliesthat are comprised in the chassis. In some cases the chassis may not beconfigured to provide auxiliary power, requiring that the auxiliarypower be connected to the main power supply. If the chassis did notprovide auxiliary power, the use of a chassis power button would not bepossible. Therefore the chassis would need to be turned on/off using amechanical power switch in the same manner as previously described.

In the cases described above, the controller is typically expected tohave the capability to turn on the chassis main power supply, preferablywithout user intervention. Another requirement may be for the chassismain power supply to remain turned off when a controller is insertedinto a chassis that is plugged into an AC outlet. In other words, thecontroller would be expected to not turn on the main power supply. Ifthe controller is already plugged into the chassis when the chassis isplugged into the AC outlet, the chassis main power supply may also beexpected to remain turned off

Other corresponding issues related to the prior art will become apparentto one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with thepresent invention as described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one set of embodiments, a PXI Express controller may be configured tosupport at least three different conditions under which the controllermay be turned on. If a chassis (e.g. a PXI Express chassis) interfacingwith the controller has a power button, a first condition (which may bedesignated as normal operation) may include the power button beingpressed at a time when auxiliary power is present. When the chassis doesnot have a power button, a second condition may include the power beingswitched on at a time when auxiliary power is present, and a thirdcondition may include the power being switched on at a time whenauxiliary power is not present.

As mentioned, the first condition may be considered normal behavior formost standard PC chipsets, including the chipsets used on NI PXI ExpressControllers. When the power button is pressed, a power button signal maybe asserted to the chipset, in response to which the chipset mayinstruct the system to turn on (or in other words, to boot up). Astate-machine, configured to implement at least a portion of thecontroller functionality, may in turn switch on the main power supply,following which the system may boot up (turn on). The second and thirdconditions are generally not handled well by most standard PC chipsets.

For the second condition, after the power is switched on, the chipsetmay still be waiting for a power button to be pressed. In other words,even though power may be applied to the system, the controller may notautomatically boot up as a result. Certain embodiments of the presentinvention provide a method to automatically assert the power button tothe chipset, thereby resulting in the system booting up (turning on).

The third condition may be handled differently from the secondcondition. In case of the third condition, auxiliary power may be turnedon at the same time the power supply is switched on to provide mainpower to the system. The default behavior of the chipset may be toinstruct the system to turn on, since the default behavior of mostchipsets is typically to turn on after a power loss, which may bedefined as a loss of auxiliary power. While this may be interpreted as acorrect behavior for the third condition, the same behavior may causethe PXI Express controller to turn on the main power supply wheninserted in a chassis that has auxiliary power. This may occur whenauxiliary power is always present on the backplane (which may be atypical configuration for some systems), and inserting the controllerinto the chassis may be interpreted by the system the same way as if thesystem was just returning from a loss of power. To prevent thecontroller from turning on the main power supply when the controller isinserted into the chassis, the chipset may be instructed to keep thesystem turned off after a power loss. This may be accomplished byprogramming a register in the chipset, which may, however, prevent thechipset from instructing the system to turn on when the main powersupply is switched on, (as described for the second condition).

One set of embodiments of the present invention provides a method toautomatically assert the power button signal to the chipset when themain power is switched on, in addition to allowing the system to turn onwhen the power button is pressed. In both cases the controller may bekept from turning on the main power supply when inserted into a chassisor when auxiliary power is applied with the controller having alreadybeen inserted into the chassis prior to the chassis being plugged intoan AC outlet. As an added feature, the PXI Express controllers may alsohave the capability to instantly turn off the main power supplyimmediately upon the power button having been pressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing, as well as other objects, features, and advantages ofthis invention may be more completely understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when read together with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram detailing the relationship betweena chipset, a PXI Express Controller power control state machine, and apower supply in a PXI Express chassis, according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a state diagram illustrating the operation of one embodimentof the PXI Express Controller power control state machine.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to limit the invention to theparticular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims. Note, the headings are for organizational purposes only and arenot meant to be used to limit or interpret the description or claims.Furthermore, note that the word “may” is used throughout thisapplication in a permissive sense (i.e., having the potential to, beingable to), not a mandatory sense (i.e., must).” The term “include”, andderivations thereof, mean “including, but not limited to”. The term“coupled” means “directly or indirectly connected”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a PXI Express controller 110coupling to a PXI Express chassis. In one set of embodiments, aprocessor 102 may be coupling to chipset 104, which may be poweredup/down according to the operation of a state machine 106, which mayalso at least partially control operation of power supply 108 configuredwithin PXI Express chassis 112. Processor 102 may communicate withchipset 104 via one or more connections/bus lines 120. Chipset 104 andprocessor 102 may be a part of overall system logic, implementing atleast a portion of the overall system functionality of PXI Expresscontroller 110, while state machine 106 may be configured as controllogic responsible for at least partially controlling the boot up (systemturn on) functionality of PXI Express controller 110. In one set ofembodiments, chipset 104 and state machine 106 may operate together tocontrol system turn on (booting up) for PXI Express controller 110.

State machine 106 may receive an on/off signal 122 and instant offenable signal 124 from chipset 104, and both chipset 104 and statemachine 106 may receive a bidirectional power button signal 128 frompower button 140 configured on PXI Express chassis 112. PXI Expresscontroller 110 may additionally receive main power 130 and auxiliarypower 132 signals from power supply 108. Power supply 108 may indicatepower good status to state machine 106 via power good status line 134,while state machine 106 may be configured to enable power supply 108 viapower supply enable line 136. Power switch 142 may be operated to turnon power supply 108 via power switch line 138. It should be noted thatPXI Express chassis 112 shown in FIG. 1 is only exemplary, and variouscomponents—which are all shown in FIG. 1—may or may not all be presentin different embodiments handling different power-up conditions that arefurther discussed below.

In one set of embodiments, PXI Express controller 110 may support atleast three different conditions under which it may be turned on,according at least to the configuration of state machine 106. If PXIExpress chassis 112 has a power button 140 (as shown in FIG. 1), thefirst condition—considered normal operation—may be characterized bypower button 140 being pressed with auxiliary power 132 present. Thesecond and third conditions may occur in embodiments where PXI Expresschassis 112 does not include power button 140, but includes power switch142. In those cases the second condition may be characterized by mainpower 130 being switched on with auxiliary power 132 present, and thethird condition may be characterized by main power 130 being switched onwithout auxiliary power 132 present.

As mentioned above, the first condition may be considered normalbehavior for most standard PC chipsets, including chipset 104 used inPXI Express controller 110. When power Button 140 is pressed, assertingbutton signal 128, chipset 104 may respond to the asserted power buttonsignal 128 by instructing the system via on/off signal 122 to turn on.In response, state-machine 106—which may be configured to implement atleast a portion of the functionality of PXI Express controller 110—mayturn on main power supply 108 via power supply enable signal 136. Aspreviously mentioned, the first condition may apply when PXI Expresschassis 112 does not include a power switch 142, and power supply 108 isplugged into a power source, e.g. an AC outlet, providing auxiliarypower 132 to PXI Express controller 110 (and therefore to the system).

The second and third conditions (as previously described) are typicallynot handled well by most standard PC chipsets. The second condition maybe characterized by auxiliary power being present at the time the poweris switched on, (i.e. when power switch 142 is flipped to turn on powersupply 108 via power switch signal 138). In this case, even after thepower is switched on, chipset 104 may still be waiting for a powerbutton (such as power button 140) to be pressed. In other words, whilepower may be applied to PXI Express chassis 112 via main power 130, PXIExpress controller 110 may still not boot up. In one set of embodiments,state machine 106 may therefore be configured to automatically assertpower button signal 128 to chipset 104, resulting in chipset 104instructing state machine 106 via signal 122 to turn the system on.

The third condition may be handled differently from the secondcondition. The third condition may be characterized by auxiliary powernot being present at the time power supply 108 is switched on, which mayresult in auxiliary power 132 being turned on at the same time as mainpower 130, when power supply 108 is switched on. The default behavior ofchipset 104 may be to instruct the system to turn on, since the defaultbehavior of most chipsets is typically to turn on after a power loss,where power loss may be defined as a loss of auxiliary power 132. Whilethis may be interpreted as correct behavior, the same behavior may causePXI Express controller 110 to turn on main power 130 when PXI Expresscontroller 110 is inserted into PXI Express chassis 112 in whichauxiliary power 132 is present. This may occur when auxiliary power 132is always present on the backplane—which may be a typical configurationfor auxiliary power in some systems. Under such conditions, when PXIExpress controller 110 is inserted into PXI Express chassis 112, PXIExpress controller 110 may effectively behave as if it were returningfrom a loss of power. To prevent PXI Express controller 110 from turningon main power 130 when inserted into PXI Express chassis 112 in whichauxiliary power is present, chipset 104 may be instructed to remainturned off after a power loss. One way this may be accomplished is byprogramming a register in chipset 104. This may however prevent chipset104 from instructing the system to turn on when main power 130 isswitched on, as in the case of the second condition previouslydescribed.

Accordingly, in one set of embodiments state machine 106 may beconfigured to automatically assert power button signal 128 to chipset104 when main power 130 is switched on, in addition to allowing thesystem to turn on when power button 140 is pressed with auxiliary powerpresent. In both cases PXI Express controller 110 may also be configuredto not turn on main power 130 when inserted into PXI Express chassis112, or when auxiliary power 132 is applied after PXI Express controller110 has already been inserted into PXI Express chassis 112, (for examplewhen PXI Express controller 110 is inserted into PXI Express chassis 112prior to PXI Express chassis 112 being plugged into an AC outlet). As anadded feature, PXI Express controller 110 may also have the capabilityto instantly turn main power 130 off upon power button 140 being pressedwhen the system is turned on.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram illustrating the operation of one embodimentof state machine 106 configured to support at least the three differentconditions described above. The state machine may enter a Soft Off state202 after a Reset 210 being applied. This may typically occur when theauxiliary power (for example auxiliary power 132) is within operatinglimits. The operating limits may be defined according to theconfiguration of the chipset (for example chipset 104), and are notdescribed in detail herein. In a chassis with auxiliary power, Reset 210may take place when the controller (for example PXI Express controller110) is plugged-in, or when the power cord is plugged into the chassis(for example PXI Express chassis 112). In a chassis with no auxiliarypower, Reset 210 may take place when the main power supply (for examplepower supply 108) is switched on (e.g. using switch 142 to assert switchsignal 138, thereby providing main power 130). The next state followingstate 202 may depend on whether a power button (for example power button140) was pressed or the power supply was switched on (e.g. using powerswitch 142).

In case a power button is pressed, the chipset may instruct the systemto turn on, resulting in the state-machine operating to turn on the mainpower. The main power may thereby be turned on and assert a power goodsignal (for example power good signal 134) to the controller—as shown inbranching condition 220—to signal to the controller that the powersupply or supplies are operating properly. In response, thestate-machine may then transition to Full On state 204.

In case no power button is pressed and the power supply is switched on,the power supply may assert the power good signal, but the chipset mayhave no way to recognize that the system needs to be turned on. In thiscase, the state-machine may assert the power button signal to thechipset, also indicating that power is not yet turned on—as shown inbranching condition 222, resulting in the state-machine's entering theAssert Power Button state 206. Once the power button signal has beenasserted to the chipset, the chipset may in response instruct the systemto turn on—as shown in branching condition 214, leading to thestate-machine's transitioning to the Full On state 204. Thestate-machine may remain in the Full On state 204 until the chipsetinstructs the system to turn off, or, in case instant off is enabled,until a power button is pressed.

When instant off is not enabled and the user shuts down the system froman operating system (e.g. Windows) or by pressing the power button, thechipset may instruct the system to turn off. In response, thestate-machine may operate to turn off the main power. Once the mainpower is turned off, the power supply may de-assert its power goodsignal—as shown in branching condition 212, and the state-machine maytransition back to the Soft Off state 202.

Instant off may be enabled in a variety of ways, for example through aBIOS setup option, effectively programming the chipset to assert asignal to the state-machine to enable instant off. With instant offenabled and the power button pressed—as shown in branching condition216—the state-machine may transition from the Full On state 204 to theInstant Off state 208, and may operate to immediately turn off the mainpower. The power supply may de-assert its power good signal, in responseto which the chipset may instruct the system to turn off—as shown inbranching condition 224, leading to the state-machine transitioning backinto the Soft Off state 202. In certain embodiments, if the power buttonis pressed again while in the Instant Off state 208 prior to the statemachine transitioning to the Soft Off state (as per the previousdescription), the power supply may have its power good signal asserted,resulting in the state machine transitioning back to the Full On stateaccording to branching condition 218.

It should be noted that while the embodiments discussed in detail centeraround a PXI Express controller plugging into a PXI Express chassis,other types of controllers and corresponding chassis might equally bedesigned and operated to support the turn-on of the controller accordingto the conditions described herein. For example, embodiments ofstate-machines operating according to the state diagram shown in FIG. 2may be configured in controllers other than PXI Express controllers, andwhile such controllers are not expressly mentioned, they are possibleand are contemplated. It should also be noted that while state machine106 is shown as being separate from chipset 104, in some embodimentschipset 104 and state machine 106 may be combined as a single device,wherein the single device comprises the full functionality of chipset104 and state machine 106.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed asillustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to beunderstood that the forms of the invention shown and described hereinare to be taken as embodiments. Elements and materials may besubstituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts andprocesses may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may beutilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in theart after having the benefit of this description of the invention.Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the followingclaims.

1. A system comprising: a circuit board configured to insert into achassis to couple the circuit board to the chassis, wherein the chassiscomprises a power supply that is operable to provide main power to thesystem, wherein the circuit board comprises: a chipset configured to atleast partially implement functions performed by the system; and controllogic coupled to the chipset via a first signal line operable to carry afirst signal; wherein the control logic is operable to automaticallyassert the first signal in response to the power supply being switchedon and providing main power to the system; and wherein the chipset isoperable to instruct the system to turn on in response to the firstcontrol signal being automatically asserted by the control logic.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the control logic is further coupled to thechipset via a second signal line operable to carry a second signal,wherein the second signal indicates to the control logic: that thechipset has instructed the system to turn on; or that the chipset hasinstructed the system to turn off.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thechassis further comprises a power button configured to couple to thefirst signal line, wherein the power button, when pressed, is operableto assert the first signal; wherein the power supply is operable toprovide auxiliary power to the system; wherein the chipset is operableto instruct the system to turn on in response to the power button beingpressed at a time when: auxiliary power is present in the system; andthe power supply is not providing main power to the system.
 4. Thesystem of claim 3, wherein the control logic is further coupled to thechipset via a second signal line operable to carry a second signal,wherein in instructing the system to turn on, the chipset is operable toassert the second signal; wherein the control logic is operable toassert a third signal to the power supply to turn on the power supply,in response to the second signal being asserted.
 5. The system of claim4, wherein the control logic is operable to receive a fourth signal fromthe power supply, wherein the power supply is operable to assert thefourth signal to indicate that the power supply is switched on and isproviding main power to the system.
 6. A method for booting up (turningon) and/or shutting off a system comprising control logic and systemlogic, the method comprising: when the system is off, performing one of:(a) switching on a power supply to provide main power to the system; or(b) pressing a power button to instruct the system logic to boot up thesystem; in response to (b): (c) asserting a power button signal to thesystem logic; (d) the system logic instructing the system to boot up inresponse to (c); (e) the control logic turning on the power supply inresponse to (d); (f) the power supply indicating to the control logicthat the power supply is on and providing main power to the system; and(g) the system booting up in response to (f); and in response to (a):(h) performing (f); (i) the control logic asserting the power buttonsignal to the system logic in response to (h); (j) the system logicinstructing the system to boot up in response to (i); and (k) the systembooting up in response to (j).
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: (l) when the system is on, instructing the system logic toshut off the system; (m) the system logic instructing the control logicthat the system logic has been instructed to shut off the system; (n)the control logic shutting off the power supply in response to (m); and(o) the system shutting off in response to (l) and (n).
 8. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: (p) enabling an instant off mode in thecontrol logic; (q) when the system is on, pressing the power button; (r)the control logic shutting off the power supply in response to (q); (s)performing (o).
 9. A system comprising: a chassis comprising a powersupply operable to provide: main power and auxiliary power to thesystem; and a power supply status signal indicating whether the powersupply is providing main power to the system; and a circuit boardoperable to be inserted into the chassis, the circuit board comprising:a chipset operable to control one or more system functions; controllogic configured to couple to the chipset and operable to receive thepower supply status signal, wherein the control logic is operable toautomatically assert a power button signal to the chipset in response tothe power supply status signal indicating that the power supply isproviding main power to the system when the system is off; wherein thechipset is operable to instruct the system to turn on in response to thepower button signal being asserted by the control logic.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the chassis comprises a switch operable to switch onthe power supply to provide main power to the system.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the power supply is operable to provide auxiliary powerto the system once the power supply is coupled to an external powersource that provides power to the power supply.
 12. The system of claim11, wherein the control logic is configured to prevent the power supplyfrom providing main power to the system when the system is off and: thecircuit board is inserted into the chassis at a time auxiliary power ispresent in the system; and/or auxiliary power is provided to the systemafter the circuit board has been inserted into the chassis.
 13. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the chassis further comprises a power buttonoperable to assert the power button signal to the chipset when the powerbutton is pressed; wherein the chipset is operable to instruct thesystem to turn on in response to the power button signal being assertedby the power button when the system is off, wherein the chipset isfurther operable to assert a power indicator signal to the controllogic, wherein the asserted power indicator signal indicates to thecontrol logic that the chipset has instructed the system to turn on;wherein the control logic is operable to enable the power supply toprovide main power to the system in response to the asserted powerindicator signal; and wherein the system is operable to boot up inresponse to the chipset having instructed the system to turn on and thepower supply providing main power to the system.